If you’re morbidly obese and struggled to lose weight through diet and exercise alone, you may qualify for bariatric surgery.
There are different types of bariatric procedures. One of which is a gastric sleeve.
What is a gastric sleeve?
Also known as vertical sleeve gastrectomy, gastric sleeve is a bariatric procedure that involves removal of a part of a stomach and joining the remaining parts to make a smaller-sized (close to the size of a banana) stomach or “sleeve.”
With your “new” and smaller-sized stomach (it’ll be about 1/10th of the size of your original stomach), you’ll feel full a lot quicker.
Are gastric sleeve and gastric bypass the same?
They’re not.
In a gastric bypass, a small pouch is created, skipping the stomach and going straight to the intestine.
What can you expect in a gastric sleeve surgery?
Dr. Mark Colquitt and Dr. Jonathan Ray of Foothills Weight Loss Surgeons in Knoxville may perform your sleeve gastrectomy laparoscopically or using robotically-assisted surgery. Both techniques involve a few, small incisions on your abdominal area. A laparoscope, a special instrument with a small camera, will be inserted to guide the surgical team. Images are magnified and viewed on a monitor.
There will be additional cuts on your belly for other medical instruments. These instruments will help the surgeon remove ¾ of your stomach and attach the remaining part to form a “sleeve.”
What can you expect after the procedure?
With your smaller stomach, you’ll start feeling fuller with just a small amount of food.
As you can only fit a certain amount of food, you have to watch out what you eat. You’ll have to adapt to your new eating habits, which would include avoiding high-calorie drinks and snacks, as this surgery is non-reversible (you cannot undo it).
How much weight can one lose with a gastric sleeve?
Many people who underwent gastric sleeve surgery lose about 60 percent of their extra weight within 12 to 18 months. You may lose more if you religiously follow your dietary guidelines and start working out when it’s safe to do so.
Is gastric sleeve right for you?
General qualifications for bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve, include:
- A BMI of > 40 or higher
- A BMI of > 35 with at least one obesity-related co-morbidity such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea
- Inability to lose weight through healthy weight loss efforts
At Foothills Weight Loss Surgeons in Knoxville, we require all our potential clients to attend our FREE info sessions. It helps you learn about your options and is required by most insurance plans. This educational seminar, which you can attend in-person or online, can help you achieve a more informed choice.
For the safety of our clients and staff with concerns about the COVID-19 virus, the in-person seminar is suspended temporarily. We encourage interested patients to view our seminar online from the safety and convenience of their own home right now.
If you have any questions about the seminar, please don’t hesitate to call us at (865) 984-3413. After registration, please contact our office to confirm that we have received your registration info.
Foothills Weight Loss Surgeons is part of Premier Surgical Bariatrics in Knoxville, Tennessee. Foothills is affiliated with the Fort Sanders Center for Bariatric Surgery, a member of Covenant Health Bariatric Services.
References:
https://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/what-is-gastric-sleeve-weight-loss-surgery
http://surgery.ucla.edu/bariatrics-gastric-sleeve